Directions

Make the Filling:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on a medium heat.
2. Sauté the ginger, garlic and onions for about 5 minutes on a medium-high heat.
3. Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking apart the meat as you go.
4. Season with curry powder, salt and cumin. When the chicken is cooked through (about 10 minutes), add the petit peas and carrots. Combine well and set aside.

Crimp the Empanadas:
1. Place a tablespoon of filling in the center of an empanada wrapper.
2. Fold one side over the other and crimp the edges together, using the rope or fork method.
3. Repeat until finished with all of the wrappers and filling.

To cook:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Brush the tops of the empanadas with egg wash (one egg lightly beaten with a dash of water)
3. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden. Serve with Tamarind sauce or sweet mango chutney.

To Freeze:
1. Crimp each empanada and lay on a baking sheet lined with wax paper (making sure not to overlap or stack the empanadas.)
2. Place uncovered in the freezer for several hours until the empanadas are frozen solid.
3. Transfer to a freezer bag and seal, squeezing out excess air.
4. To cook, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees, brush the tops of each with egg wash and bake on a non-stick baking sheet for 30 minutes until golden.

Empanada Dough

Makes 14 5 inch round cylinders
Although pre-made empanada wrappers are readily available, making your own flaky dough is actually quite simple. The extra effort will make quite a difference in the quality. Although you can use a pastry cutter and blend the dough by hand, to save time, we used a food processor.

Using a food processor, pulse the flour and salt together until mixed. Add the cubed butter or shortening and pulse until course and crumbly — about 12 times. Add ice cold water 1 tablespoon at a time (about 10 – 12), pulsing in between until mixture begins to gather. Remove from the mixer and knead with your hands for a few seconds. Wrap in plastic wrap and let the dough rest in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.

Divide the dough into two batches and roll the dough on a floured surface 1/8 inch thick and use a round mold 6 inches in diameter to cut circles. Gather and reuse the dough, rolling and cutting the cylinders. Place in between layers of parchment paper to store in a freezer bag.

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About Alison J. Bermack

It all began when I was a child cooking with my dad, the kitchen a magnet for cooking and camaraderie, a refuge from adolescence. I spent countless hours chopping, sautéing and simmering my way through childhood. And now, with three kids of my own, I’m still chopping, but this time through their childhood and often with friends.